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Why do United need Benteke when they have Hernandez?

The Premier League champions have been linked with a swoop for the Aston Villa forward today, but already have a goal machine on their bench…

Despite the transfer window being shut for less than a week, the British media are intent on ‘breaking’ stories with potential January deals on the cards for Premier League clubs.

One such story reported today is that Manchester United are weighing up a move for Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke, and will make a move for Belgian when the transfer window reopens in the new year.

Despite Benteke’s excellent debut season in England, in which he netted 19 Premier League goals for Paul Lambert’s men, there are a number of reasons why this deal looks doomed before it has even started.

Firstly Benteke was initially keen to leave the Birmingham-based club earlier in the summer, only to change his mind and sign a new contract. Six months later Villa are in a fantastic negotiating position and are very unlikely to sell their best player mid-campaign.

Secondly, a new striker is the last thing that the Premier League champions need. Higher up David Moyes’ list of priorities should be left-back competition for Patrice Evra, potentially a new centre half and certainly a creative midfield player.

The Old Trafford outfit have Robin van Persie as their furthest man forward, with Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck in the second striker role. However, with someone as lethal and consistent as Javier Hernandez sitting on the United bench, signing Benteke would be folly, as good as he is.

Hernandez is as deadly a finisher as anyone in the Premier League, but has struggled to get games since Van Persie moved to the club. Despite this, the Mexican will always be there to count on if the club needs a goal and in the short and long term continues to be an important player for the side.

If Benteke was to move to Old Trafford he would simply be competing with Hernandez to be the back-up option for Van Persie – something that Chicharito already does well. Given priorities in other areas, an attempt to sign the Villa forward would be another recruitment oversight by the club.

Instead of having one top-drawer centre forward sitting on the United bench, there would be two – surely a waste of resources?

There were slight rumblings in the summer transfer window that Hernandez could well be available and due to the lack of first-team action could move elsewhere. Selling the Central American would be a massive faux-pas on the part of United, who can always count on him to score when give a regular chance to play.

Benteke is an excellent player and will continue to see his stock rise as he impresses at Villa Park. A move to a top club will more than likely be in the offing in the future, but with the personnel at David Moyes’ disposal currently it shouldn’t be to Manchester United.

Gareth McKnight

I am a freelance football journalist from Northern Ireland, currently living and working from Broome in Western Australia. After a degree in sports journalism from the University of Stirling in Scotland, I started in the online football world and have worked for leading websites and media outlets since. My knowledge and passion is based around the Premier League and European football, but I also have a soft spot for the Australian A-League.